Features / Semple-y the best day for Stan as he is handed Scotland football VIP experience
YOU DON’T need words to describe the look of surprise that fell upon Stan Semple’s face as he opened an envelope in front of the cameras filming a piece on grassroots football in Scotland.
The video says it all. “Stan, in recognition of your contribution to football, we’re sending you to Hampden Park to watch Scotland in a World Cup qualifier,” he says as he reads out the letter.
“Wow,” he says with a look of surprise and shock. “Fantastic!”
Fast forward to Scotland’s match against Greece at Hampden in October, and there Stan is, camera at his side in the crowd, as he watches a 3-1 home victory.
It was the 63-year-old’s first time seeing Scotland play at Hampden in around four decades, and to top it off, he even got a video message from midfielder John McGinn, a signed shirt and a chance to check out the famous stadium.
Put it simply, Stan said “it is something I’ll never forget”.
The trip to Hampden, and video interview, was part of an initiative by Specsavers – which sponsors the Scottish national team – to pay tribute to those dedicated to grassroots football in the country.
Reflecting on his experience to Shetland News, Stan – who has played with the Shetland Banks football team since moving to the isles in the 1970s – said his name was put forward for the ‘local legend’ title by others involved in local football.
Specsavers had a film crew in Shetland at the start of the summer to film a piece about grassroots football, and unbeknownst to him, the production team were on the lookout for someone to highlight individually.
“Eventually I was chosen out of the ones that were in the mix,” Stan says.
“And that was when I got the call from Jack [Clubb] to go along one morning to meet up with the film production crew there and have a wee interview in the Noost.
“They just wanted to know about my time in football in Shetland, when I arrived and all the rest of it.
“Right at the end they said ‘if you could pull out the card in this envelope and read it’.”
As the video shows, Stan read out that he was about to go on a trip to Hampden – travel and accommodation paid for – to watch Scotland play.
“I was just shocked, and surprised,” he says. “I was not expecting that. I was just expecting to have my little input into the general video on Shetland.
“It was all fairly swift and out of the blue. I was very much in their capable hands when I got there.”
Stan’s moment in the limelight did not end there, however.
STV also wanted to do a short video with the veteran footballer, and they took him to a Glasgow pub before the Scotland match to be interviewed by sports reporter Raman Bhardwaj.
Feeling a little too humble, Stan was encouraged to try to embrace the ‘local legend’ tag for the cameras.
Perhaps his experience being an extra on every series of the Shetland TV drama helped too as he shot pieces for the STV video.
And to the match itself; a 3-1 victory for Scotland that saw Steve Clarke’s side pick up a vital three points, despite playing poorly.
In hindsight, it was a vital victory in Scotland’s journey to eventual World Cup qualification – secured with that famous 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden earlier this month.
It was November 1985 that Stan last saw Scotland play at Hampden, again, in a World Cup qualifying match.
“That was the old Hampden Park, the old terracing,” he reflects.
“I was sitting on the stand with my grandfather, not far away from where the video was where I was standing there looking out at the pitch.”
Stan was picked as a ‘local legend’ given his unwavering connection to local team Shetland Banks, who he has played with since 1978.
As time wears on, he now finds himself as the manager of the club, but he still tries to find time to have a kickabout.
Despite being eligible for a bus pass, Stan managed a full 90 minutes in a Highland Amateur Cup match last season as well as some sub appearances in other ties too.
“It’s still good to be able to run about,” he smiles.
“I was told by a few folk saying Stan, ‘just play football as long as you can, because once you stop, you’ll not be able to start again, and you’ll miss it’.
“That’s always been in my mind.”
Laura Baird, Specsavers’ Scottish regional chair, described Stan’s story, and the dedication he has shown to football in Shetland, as “genuinely inspiring”.
“We’re proud to support the full spectrum of Scottish football, from the national teams through to the communities and fans who give the game its heart,” she said.
“It’s these unseen and unheard stories that show why the Scottish game matters so much and why we’re committed to shining a light on it.
“And with Scotland officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we’re hoping Stan brings a bit of Shetland good luck with him.”
Back to reality meanwhile after his whirlwind trip to Glasgow and a brush with the limelight, it appears Stan is remaining humble – and is trying his best to brush off the local legend tag.
“I’m really so lucky and fortunate to have been chosen,” he said.
“There’s so many other folk who do a lot for grassroots football in Shetland. They all deserve recognition in some kind of way.”
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